Thursday, June 18, 2015

Yay! Summer is here for pretty much everyone now! You know what that means! SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and today kicks off the 7th week of the program for 2015. Here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!

This week's YA title is Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, performed by Sasha Pick for Bolinda Audio.

Rose Justice is a young pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. On her way back from a semi-secret flight in the waning days of the war, Rose is captured by the Germans and ends up in Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi women's concentration camp. There, she meets an unforgettable group of women, including a once glamorous and celebrated French detective novelist whose Jewish husband and three young sons have been killed; a resilient young girl who was a human guinea pig for Nazi doctors trying to learn how to treat German war wounds; and a Nachthexen, or Night Witch, a female fighter pilot and military ace for the Soviet air force. These damaged women must bond together to help each other survive. In this companion volume to the critically acclaimed novel Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein continues to explore themes of friendship and loyalty, right and wrong, and unwavering bravery in the face of indescribable evil.

This week's classic title is Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies & Alison Leslie Gold, performed by Barbara Rosenblat for Oasis Audio.

She found Anne Frank’s diary and brought the world a message of love and hope. For more than two years, Miep Gies and her husband helped hide the Franks from the Nazis. Like thousands of unsung heroes of the Holocaust, they risked their lives each day to bring food, news, and emotional support to the victims. From her own remarkable childhood as a World War I refugee to the moment she places a small, red-orange, checkered diary – Anne’s legacy – in Otto Frank’s hands, Miep Gies remembers her days with simple honesty and shattering clarity. Each page rings with courage and heartbreaking beauty.

I've always been fascinated by the wars of the early 20th century, but for some reason I've been unable to make myself read either of Elizabeth Wein's books. Maybe because I remember how touched and broken I felt after reading The Diary of Anne Frank all those years ago in junior high, and I'm not ready for that kind of book again. Even if everyone and their mother has raved about Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire. I'll have to give them a try now, though, I suppose. :)

Will you be picking up either of these titles? Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download. To download this week's titles, just click here to be taken directly to the SYNC download page.

I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last few years, and I've had the opportunity to listen to a ton of great audio for free. If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy. And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed or discover new ones. Win/win. =)